Program Director, Research Communications Shared Services (Hybrid Possible)

The University of Notre Dame (ND.jobs) is accepting applications for a Program Director, Research Communications Shared Services (Hybrid Possible).

 Applications will be accepted until 11/30/2024.

It’s more than what you do: it’s how you do it.

That’s why https://research.nd.edu/ is committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity and ensures that members of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome, and included. We strive to achieve a culture of openness, autonomy, and belonging, making Notre Dame an exceptional place for our team, partners, and collaborators to flourish.

Come grow with us!

As a leading global Catholic research university, one of just 71 members in the esteemed Association of American Universities (AAU), the University of Notre Dame is committed to living its mission to be a powerful means for doing good in the world through its research, scholarship, and creative endeavor.

Now, in order to support ND’s researchers and the communications required by externally funded grants and other funded programs, NDR is searching for a new Program Director of Research Communications Shared Services (PDRCSS). This role will specifically serve NDR and the wider University by leading the Research Communications Shared Services (RCSS) team. This team is charged with conceptualizing and delivering a full suite of communications services, from storytelling to events, social media to videos, and more, to researchers with external funding.

We are looking for a savvy communicator with strong leadership skills and an appreciation and enthusiasm for research from across the academy who can support a diverse team of communicators. The PDRCSS will:

• Manage the growing RCSS team (within the larger NDRC structure). This will include leading team meetings for this unit, conducting performance reviews, providing coaching, identifying professional development opportunities, and more.
• Build strong relationships with faculty from across the University in order to identify communications needs that can be supported through the RCSS team’s for-hire model. Provides positive leadership in partnering, managing, and negotiating with colleagues. With a service-oriented mindset, interact with integrity, using judgment and tact. Collaborate directly with faculty, staff, and administrators, demonstrating strong cross-department and executive-level communication skills.
• Proactively collaborate with NDR’s proposal administration team to identify new opportunities to provide communications support to faculty members. Position the RCSS team for inclusion in researchers’ proposals.
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight for all RCSS team members and the grants/units they serve.
• Work together with the central NDR team to ensure best practices are followed and a robust, modern research communications service is offered.
• Together with the Program Director of Research Content Strategy and the Program Director of Research Brand Execution, provide editorial oversight and brand compliance to all RCSS team members, including identifying opportunities to collaborate.
• Ensure all communications platforms that are supported by the RCSS team have dynamic, up-to-date, and consistently developed written content that is well-presented, technically accurate, and meets target higher education audience needs, in addition to serving the strategies and tactics of NDR’s communications vision and mission.
• Report monthly on all items above.

In addition, the PDRCSS will be responsible for their own research communications portfolio, supporting grants or endowment-funded units, at up to a 50% capacity. This portfolio will be determined by the Executive Director and may be subject to change. Initially, this position will support https://news.nd.edu/news/notre-dame-to-develop-next-generation-refrigerant-technology-as-part-of-a-new-national-science-foundation-engineering-research-center/. EARTH is a multi-institution, multi-disciplinary team from the University of Kansas, University of Notre Dame, University of Hawai’i, University of Maryland, University of South Dakota, and Lehigh University. This ERC will create a “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” to address technical, environmental, and societal challenges facing the HVACR industry. EARTH’s efforts are based on four ERC pillars: convergent research, diversity and culture of inclusion, engineering workforce development, and innovation ecosystem, which will impact the engineering and scientific communities, the HVACR industry, and society. Relevant duties will include:

• Conceptualizing, building, and managing websites using the CMS Conductor. Must be able to work collaboratively with web designers on design and build processes.

Managing social media accounts, such as LinkedIn and X. Other social media channels may be considered in the future.

• Sourcing, drafting, editing, and publishing research news stories. Candidate must be able to take the content from ideation through editing and into completion.
• Creating newsletters in Emma, including managing mailing lists both in Emma and in Google Groups.
• Creating graphics and other multimedia content for use on social media, the website, digital signs, print, and more. Candidate must be able to take concept from ideation, through drafting, editing, and design, to a final product for print and delivery or use online.
• Attending or supporting events and conferences, both locally, regionally, nationally, or abroad.
• Providing monthly reporting on all of the above items.

Further, the successful candidate will work collaboratively with ND’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications, including Media Relations, ND Creative, Brand Content, and others, as well as colleagues in the Colleges and Schools, the Alumni Association, Development, and more. This position reports to the Executive Director of Research Communications, Marketing, and Events and is a hybrid position based in South Bend, Indiana.

Finally, the ideal candidate will be a collaborative, solutions-oriented problem solver, who has an understanding of, and enthusiasm for, higher education and research, and can work within embargoed and/or confidential arrangements, will work diplomatically as part of the NDRC team to support all existing NDR communications services.

Minimum Qualifications:

 Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required. English, public relations, or other communications with an interest in STEM fields desired. Alternatively, a science or engineering background with strong writing skills will be considered.
• 5-7 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience leading a team and managing employees is essential.
• Past experience working in higher education or academic setting and past experience in STEM disciplines strongly desired.

Skills:

• Candidates must be creative and collaborative problem-solvers with a proven ability to manage a continuous, professional presence in all areas of communications. Strong social competencies and consensus-building skills required.
• Proficiency in Macintosh platforms and Google products required, including email, calendar, forms, sheets, docs, analytics, and more.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required, including research, fact-checking, and editing.
• Must be proficient with the AP Style Guide.
• Well-organized and detail-oriented, with an ability to multitask and handle shifting priorities.
• Candidates will need the ability to function as a team member to fulfill team objectives while working collaboratively with the highest standards of confidentiality, discretion, and diplomacy.
• Enthusiasm and ability to meet strict deadlines, creative and strategic thinking, strong organizational skills, detail-oriented, and a collaborative style, even when in a remote or hybrid environment, and the ability to work effectively within a diverse population.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience using content management systems (Conductor, WordPress, etc.) and experience using social media for business purposes, especially LinkedIn, X, or Instagram, is desired.
• Experience with the Adobe Suite, Emma / Salesforce platforms, and Asana desired.
• Some travel may be required, so a valid passport, or the ability to successfully apply for one, is needed.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace. We strongly encourage applications from female and minority candidates and those candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and requires affirmative action by covered contractors to employ and advance veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a).

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please apply online at http://ND.jobs to Job # https://apptrkr.com/5780459. For additional information about working at the University of Notre Dame and various benefits available to employees, please visit http://hr.nd.edu/why-nd. The University of Notre Dame supports the needs of dual career couples and has a Dual Career Assistance Program in place to assist relocating spouses and significant others with their job search.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The University of Notre Dame, founded in 1842 by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is an independent, national Catholic university located in Notre Dame, Ind. For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Notre Dame has received Honor Roll distinctions as one of the top 10 higher education workplaces in the country in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual “Great Colleges to Work For” survey…and we are proud of it!

This appointment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Applicants will be asked to identify all felony convictions and/or pending felony charges. Felony convictions do not automatically bar an individual from employment. Each case will be examined separately to determine the appropriateness of employment in the particular position. Failure to be forthcoming or dishonesty with respect to felony disclosures can result in the disqualification of a candidate. The full procedure can be viewed at https://facultyhandbook.nd.edu/?id=link-73597.